Heating Safety Tips

Friday

Jan 24, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in a central location in the house. Test them monthly. Read the manufacturer's instructions before using space heaters, and make sure they carry the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Keep space heaters away from curtains and other flammable materials. Turn them off when nobody is home and at night because they can easily be knocked over in the dark. Use the proper grade and type of fuel in liquid-fueled space heaters, such as kerosene heaters. DO NOT refill a kerosene heater with gasoline. Refuel them in well-ventilated areas and only when the equipment is cool. DO NOT refill a kerosene heater while it's hot. Store heating fuel in safe, properly labeled containers. Have your boiler or fireplace inspected and cleaned annually by a certified inspector to avoid blockages and residue that can lead to fires. Use only dry, seasoned wood in fireplaces and wood stoves to avoid a creosote buildup that can lead to fires. Make sure fireplaces are equipped with a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Do not use a cooking oven to heat your home, as an open oven can give off deadly carbon monoxide. Make sure fuel-burning equipment is vented outdoors to prevent deadly carbon monoxide from building up in the home.

Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in a central location in the house. Test them monthly. Read the manufacturer's instructions before using space heaters, and make sure they carry the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Keep space heaters away from curtains and other flammable materials. Turn them off when nobody is home and at night because they can easily be knocked over in the dark. Use the proper grade and type of fuel in liquid-fueled space heaters, such as kerosene heaters. DO NOT refill a kerosene heater with gasoline. Refuel them in well-ventilated areas and only when the equipment is cool. DO NOT refill a kerosene heater while it's hot. Store heating fuel in safe, properly labeled containers. Have your boiler or fireplace inspected and cleaned annually by a certified inspector to avoid blockages and residue that can lead to fires. Use only dry, seasoned wood in fireplaces and wood stoves to avoid a creosote buildup that can lead to fires. Make sure fireplaces are equipped with a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Do not use a cooking oven to heat your home, as an open oven can give off deadly carbon monoxide. Make sure fuel-burning equipment is vented outdoors to prevent deadly carbon monoxide from building up in the home.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

Energy Saving Tips

Check your attic, attic stairway, attached garage walls and basement to make sure your home is insulated to DOE-recommended levels for your area. When inspecting and buying home insulation products, look for the R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power. Wrap your hot water heater in an insulating jacket. Schedule an annual tune-up for your heat pump, furnace or boiler. Your utility company may provide this service. Hire a professional to seal and insulate leaky ducts, and to ensure that the airflow distribution system serving your heating equipment is operating at peak efficiency. Clean or replace filters on forced-air furnaces, seal flues in fireplaces you don't use, install drapes or some other covering on windows, and seal holes around plumbing and heating pipes. Install a programmable thermostat that will automatically lower nighttime temperatures. Check caulking and weatherstripping, and repair where necessary. Close your foundation vents in the winter if there's a crawl space under your home. Close the doors to rooms that you don't use. Prune shrubs that may block airflow to your heat pump. Install ceiling fans. The air circulation promotes heating efficiency in the winter.